Published Friday, 23 November, 2007 at 02:03 PM
Minister for Communities, Disability Services, ATSIP, Multicultural Affairs, Seniors and Youth
The Honourable Lindy Nelson-Carr
Pilot program targets Indigenous alcohol abuse in Townsville
A landmark pilot program targeting alcohol abuse and crime among Indigenous Queenslanders was officially launched in Townsville today.
Minister for Communities and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships Lindy Nelson-Carr said Townsville was one of three locations trialling the $36.4 million Queensland Indigenous Alcohol Diversion Program (QIADP).
Other programs being trialled are in Rockhampton and Cairns.
“QIADP is a three-year pilot program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with alcohol misuse issues who are involved in the criminal justice or child protection systems,” Ms Nelson-Carr said.
“Major aims of this whole-of-government trial are to improve health standards among Indigenous people and to reduce their over-representation in the justice and child protection systems, while ultimately keeping more of our families together.
“It’s hoped that the trial proves successful in helping to break the cycles of alcohol abuse and crime affecting Indigenous men, women and children in communities.
“It is about helping to not only improve health standards, but also helping to rebuild lives,” Ms Nelson-Carr said.
Speaker of the Queensland Legislative Assembly and Member for Townsville Mike Reynolds said the program would make treatment and support — including supported accommodation — available for the residents of nearby Indigenous communities, such as Palm Island.
”Queensland Health has allocated $152,155 to the Stagpole Street Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation Unit to provide treatment and support such as counselling, education, group and family therapy,” Mr Reynolds said.
“The local Yumba-Meta Housing Association will receive up to $537,000 per annum and a one-off payment of $50,000 from the Department of Communities to establish and operate the supported accommodation and support services component of the program,” he said.
“Staff from both local organisations have worked hard for the past 11 months to establish the program in Townsville, which accounts for 23 of the 32 treatment places now active statewide.”
Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Kerry Shine said QIADP was a whole-of-government program involving Indigenous people who were referred to an alcohol treatment program as part of their bail conditions or as a component of a child protection order.
“The program will be delivered in two streams, with 80 per cent of program places allocated via the criminal justice stream as referred by Magistrates, and 20 per cent referred through the child safety stream by the Department of Child Safety,” Mr Shine said.
“The program will offer individual assessments, a tailored intervention plan and case management to eligible offenders and families in contact with the child protection system.
“Case management offers the client a single point of contact with health and social services to address problems such as problematic drug use, unemployment, accommodation, education, mental health, family matters, and other health and welfare issues. In turn, this will reduce the incidence of people returning to the justice system and the child protection system.
“The three trial locations are in operation and will be able to provide up to 130 people with treatment and support to beat alcohol misuse, including 50 treatment places in Townsville,” Mr Shine said.
Media Contact: Minister Nelson-Carr’s office 3235 4280, Minister Shine’s office 3239 3478, Mr Reynolds’ office 4772 4711
Minister for Communities and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships Lindy Nelson-Carr said Townsville was one of three locations trialling the $36.4 million Queensland Indigenous Alcohol Diversion Program (QIADP).
Other programs being trialled are in Rockhampton and Cairns.
“QIADP is a three-year pilot program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with alcohol misuse issues who are involved in the criminal justice or child protection systems,” Ms Nelson-Carr said.
“Major aims of this whole-of-government trial are to improve health standards among Indigenous people and to reduce their over-representation in the justice and child protection systems, while ultimately keeping more of our families together.
“It’s hoped that the trial proves successful in helping to break the cycles of alcohol abuse and crime affecting Indigenous men, women and children in communities.
“It is about helping to not only improve health standards, but also helping to rebuild lives,” Ms Nelson-Carr said.
Speaker of the Queensland Legislative Assembly and Member for Townsville Mike Reynolds said the program would make treatment and support — including supported accommodation — available for the residents of nearby Indigenous communities, such as Palm Island.
”Queensland Health has allocated $152,155 to the Stagpole Street Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation Unit to provide treatment and support such as counselling, education, group and family therapy,” Mr Reynolds said.
“The local Yumba-Meta Housing Association will receive up to $537,000 per annum and a one-off payment of $50,000 from the Department of Communities to establish and operate the supported accommodation and support services component of the program,” he said.
“Staff from both local organisations have worked hard for the past 11 months to establish the program in Townsville, which accounts for 23 of the 32 treatment places now active statewide.”
Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Kerry Shine said QIADP was a whole-of-government program involving Indigenous people who were referred to an alcohol treatment program as part of their bail conditions or as a component of a child protection order.
“The program will be delivered in two streams, with 80 per cent of program places allocated via the criminal justice stream as referred by Magistrates, and 20 per cent referred through the child safety stream by the Department of Child Safety,” Mr Shine said.
“The program will offer individual assessments, a tailored intervention plan and case management to eligible offenders and families in contact with the child protection system.
“Case management offers the client a single point of contact with health and social services to address problems such as problematic drug use, unemployment, accommodation, education, mental health, family matters, and other health and welfare issues. In turn, this will reduce the incidence of people returning to the justice system and the child protection system.
“The three trial locations are in operation and will be able to provide up to 130 people with treatment and support to beat alcohol misuse, including 50 treatment places in Townsville,” Mr Shine said.
Media Contact: Minister Nelson-Carr’s office 3235 4280, Minister Shine’s office 3239 3478, Mr Reynolds’ office 4772 4711